Live Performance Review: Avenue Q,  The King's Theatre, Edinburgh, Wednesday 11.06.2014, 19:30

I feel as though I have to begin this review with a couple of caveats. I tend to say I don't like musicals and I also thought I did not like the King's Theatre as a venue. I know someone who was keen to see Avenue Q. I saw adverts for the show and sent them a text to let them know. They responded to ask when I would want to go, which I had not considered, though I thought why not, as had enjoyed what I had been shown of it online. 

It transpires that I don't actually have issue with the King's Theatre as a venue, it must have been something about the performances I saw there previously that I was not comfortable with. It also came to me during the show that I don't actually have an issue with musicals as a whole; I considered what musicals were and essentially I think they can be summed up essentially as working class opera - and why would I have any issue with that. I still think that there is a large number of musicals which would not be my cup-of-tea and I feel as though I will always tread carefully in this area; though I no longer feel as though my anal-sphincter tightens at the mention of musicals.

For those unfamiliar with Avenue Q, the cast is a mixture of people and puppets. The puppets look like muppets, though there is no connection to Jim Henson's companies. Not all of the people on stage also manipulate puppets. It is quite normal in the show for a puppet to be making expressions with the person manipulating that puppet making the same expressions in unison. There was no attempt to present as ventriloquism. This approach had a disconcerting affect, it felt as though the puppets softened what was being explored, and at the same time the people present enabled an element of seriousness to the show. 

There felt to be a good balance of song and talked story. I felt there was amusing word play and I appreciated questions the show highlighted in a fun and engaging manner; there was no brow-beating. I feel the show raised specific questions, though on a meta-level I felt as though it was reminding that we all have faults and insecurities, yet we also all like to have a sense of people wanting to take an interest in our lives, to share and care, and to be able to have people you can relay upon in tough times. It also, in slightly more chessey manner, reminded how it feels good to help. It was essentially promoting tolerance, perseverance and community. 

I felt the performances (and the singing) were very good, always just managing to steer clear of being too sugary. The puppets were also able to be engaged without any of them appearing overly annoying. From my perspective this is quite an achievement. 

This is also the first show I have ever seen that had signs up before entering warning of 'Partial puppet nudity'. I never thought I would be treated to the sight of a puppets areola. I feel enriched!

Rating: 09/10.